Fox Valley boys basketball outlook
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Josh Izzo (second season).
Last season’s record: 13-18 overall, 1-7 in the CCL White (8th place).
Top returners: Nick Czerak, soph., G; Liam Schwartz, sr., F.
Key newcomers: Davion Stewart, frosh., G; Austin Baloun, sr., F.
Worth noting: Izzo heads into his second season at the helm for the Chargers, who finished with their most wins (13) last season since the 2015 3A regional championship campaign. Schwartz, a 6-foot-2 wing, and 6-1 Czerak should provide leadership and experience to a youthful squad that welcomes the return of 6-1 guard/forward Baloun. “Austin had a serious injury his sophomore year and has worked his way for a comeback to try and play his senior year,” said Izzo. “Not only overcoming the physical challenges but the mental challenges that come with a serious injury. He’s truly a strong kid that just wants to get back on the floor in whatever capacity.” The Chargers, who lost a 46-44 overtime decision to Sandwich in the 2A regional quarterfinals a year ago, opens their season against Francis Parker on Nov. 25 at the Elmwood Park Thanksgiving Tournament. ACC will host its inaugural Jeremy Izzo Shootout on Jan. 4 in honor of coach Jeremy Izzo and raise Marfan Syndrome awareness. The link to the website is jeremyizzoshootout.com.
Aurora Christian
Coach: Dan Beebe (ninth season).
Last season’s record: 25-10 overall, 5-3 in the Chicagoland Christian (tied for 3rd place).
Top returners: Jacob Baumann, jr., G; Asa Johnson, jr., F; Preston Morel, soph., G.
Key newcomers: James Baker, jr., G; Landon Schuster, sr., F; Jack Wayne, jr., F; Joe DeCort, soph., G; Jordan Weeks, soph., C; Jack Pohlmann, jr., F.
Worth noting: Aurora Christian enjoyed its second 4th-place state finish in 5 years last season behind a group that also included All-Area sophomore guard Marshawn Cocroft, who has since transferred to Kaneland. Despite the loss, the Eagles return some experienced talent in 6-foot-4 Johnson, 6-foot Baumann, and 6-3 guard Morel, along with several newcomers, including 6-7 sophomore post player Weeks. “We bring back a solid nucleus from our state team last year,” said Beebe, who owns a 168-62 record at Aurora Christian. The Eagles look to contend once again in the rugged Chicagoland Christian. Aurora Christian begins its season against St. Edward on Nov. 25 at the Westminster Christian Thanksgiving Tournament before hosting the 13th annual Burney Wilkie Classic Dec. 4, 6-7. The Eagles will return to Bloomington for the State Farm Classic Dec. 26-30.
Bartlett
Coach: Jim Wolfsmith (17th season).
Last season’s record: 19-11 overall, 14-4 in the Upstate Eight (2nd place).
Top returners: Joey Cwik, soph., G; Colin Taylor, sr., F; Keegan Taylor, sr., F; Dimitre Petrasuinas, sr., F/C; Gio Scivittaro, jr., G; Deedum Lege, sr., C.
Key newcomers: Freddy Palacios, sr., G; Mikey Kampa, jr., G.
Worth noting: The Hawks finished with 19 wins for the second consecutive season last year but graduated leading scorer Nathan Scearce and his 20-point scoring average. “He carried us at times last year,” said Wolfsmith. The Taylor brothers, Colin and Keegan, are the third set of twins that Wolfsmith has coached (2 pairs of twins played softball and graduated last year) and should provide experienced length along with 6-foot-7 Petrasuinas. Cwik will see a greater role as a sophomore after averaging 7.5 ppg, 35 percent from 3, last year as a freshman. Wolfsmith expects Scivittaro and Palacios (Glenbard North transfer) to add speed, while Kampa and Lege will “give us a deep, athletic core with three returning starters and six of last year’s top 10 players.” Bartlett begins its season against Wheaton Academy on Nov. 25 at the Warriors’ Thanksgiving Tournament before opening UEC action against conference newcomer West Aurora on Dec. 6. The Hawks will compete in Jacobs’ Hinkle Holiday Tournament in December.
Batavia
Coach: Jim Nazos
Last season: 22-9 (11-3)
Top returners: Jax Abalos, senior, forward; Josh Kahley, senior, guard; Payton Wolff, senior, forward; Darian Susic, senior, forward; Joe Schroeder, senior, guard
Top newcomers: Xavier Justice, junior, guard; Joe Reid, junior, guard; Brett Berggren, junior, forward; Evan Blankenship, junior, guard; Ryan Augustine, junior, guard; Joe Daley, junior, guard; Dane Farrar, sophomore, guard
Worth noting: Batavia comes into the season looking a little different from last year’s team that finished second in the DuKane Conference. The Bulldogs saw off a big graduating class, which included four of their starters, including the likes of Nate Nazos and CJ Valente. However, they do have the return of Abalos, who’s currently committed to Cornell. With Abalos leading the way, as well as a good variety of newcomers coming into the gaps, Nazos is ready to see how competitive the team can be throughout the season and heading into conference play.
Burlington Central
Coach: Brett Porto
Last season: 21-11 (12-6 Fox Valley Conference)
Top returners: Jake Johnson, senior, forward; LJ Kerr, senior, guard; Caden West, senior, guard; Patrick Shell, senior, forward; Patrick Magan, sophomore, forward; Bennek Braden, sophomore, guard; Ryan Carpenter, sophomore, guard; Cash Cumpata, sophomore, guard
Top new players: Tyler Kotwica, junior, forward; Zach Hultgren, junior, forward; Daniel Cassata, junior, guard; Brady Andersen, junior, guard; Colton O’Neil, sophomore, forward; CJ Cenzia, sophomore, guard
Worth noting: The Rockets followed up a 29-win season, which included their third straight FVC championship, with another 20-win campaign. While they didn’t “four-peat” in the FVC, they are 57-14 since joining the conference in the 2019-20. Several veterans return, including sharp-shooting all-conference forward Johnson, and the roster is buoyed by six sophomores, including two newcomers. Porto said he hopes to be competitive in every game. … Porto won his 300th game last season and sits at 317 career wins.
Burlington Central
Coach: Brett Porto (16th season)
Last season’s record: 21-11, 12-6 FVC (tied for third)
Top returning players: Jake Johnson, sr. (F, 6-4); LJ Kerr sr. (G, 6-0); Caden West, sr. (G, 5-10); Patrick Shell, sr. (F, 6-3); Patrick Magan, so. (F, 6-6); Bennek Braden, so. (G, 6-3); Ryan Carpenter, so. (G, 5-10); Cash Cumpata, so. (G, 5-10)
Top new players: Tyler Kotwica, jr. (F, 6-3); Zach Hultgren, jr. (F, 6-5); Daniel Cassata, jr. (G, 5-10); Brady Andersen, jr. (G, 5-10); Colton O’Neil, so. (F, 6-1); CJ Cenzia, so. (G, 5-8)
Season outlook: The Rockets followed up a 29-win season, which included their third straight FVC championship, with another 20-win campaign. While they didn’t “four-peat” in the FVC, they are 57-14 since joining the conference in the 2019-20. Several veterans return, including sharp-shooting, All-FVC forward Johnson, and the roster is buoyed by six sophomores, including two newcomers. Porto said he hopes to be competitive in every game. … Porto won his 300th game last season and sits at 317 career wins.
Cary-Grove
Coach: Adam McCloud (ninth season)
Last season: 15-16, 10-8 FVC (fifth)
Top returning players: Adam Bauer, jr. (C); AJ Berndt, jr. (G); Justice German, sr. (G); Landon Nawracaj, sr. (G); Ryan Boutwell, sr. (F)
Top newcomers: Dylan Dumele, jr. (G); Conner Strike, jr. (G); Brady Bauer, jr. (F); Brady Elbert, jr. (F)
Season outlook: The Trojans are young but return a good amount of experience in Adam Bauer (56% FG, 36% 3-point shooting, 8 ppg, 5 rpg) , Berndt (7 ppg) and German, all of whom played heavy minutes last season. Also returning from strong offseasons are Nawracaj and Boutwell. McCloud said Dumele, Strike, Brady Bauer and Elbert are part of a strong junior class. The coach also said his Trojans will be fast and deep in their attack. “Perimeter shooting and aggressive defense will see the young Trojans pushing the pace this season,” McCloud said. C-G graduated Jake Hornok (13 ppg), PJ Weaver and Ryan Elbert (10 ppg). McCloud said his team’s depth will allow the Trojans to increase its pace. He also notes that scouting will be difficult for teams with the improvement of perimeter shooting his team brings into the season. … Last season marked the Trojans’ first winning campaign in the FVC since 2021-2022.
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Matt LePage (13th season)
Last season: 31-4, 18-0 FVC (first)
Top returning players: AJ Demirov, sr. (PG, 6-0); Tony Santarelli, sr. (F, 6-5); Cooper Buelna, sr. (F, 6-4); Carson Trivellini, so. (G, 6-2); Wyatt Orlick, sr. (G, 6-0); Maddox Stroner, sr. (G, 5-10)
Top newcomers: Nick Stowasser, so. (G, 6-3); John Morgan, fr. (F, 6-5); Ryan Morgan, fr. (F, 6-5)
Season outlook: The defending FVC champions return two starters and two key reserves from last season’s team, which also won the Class 3A Kaneland sectional title. Demirov is the reigning Daily Herald Fox Valley All-Area captain and is set to lead this season’s squad, which LePage said should be “a nice blend of senior experience and underclassmen.” Demirov averaged 20 points last season with 91 3s. Buelna, Santarelli and Trivellini are much improved and are ready for bigger roles to go along with Demirov, LePage said. The newcomers include the Morgans, John and Ryan, who are 6-5 freshmen. “I am looking forward to seeing this team compete and get better throughout the season,” LePage said.
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Lance Huber (22nd season)
Last season: 13-17, 7-11 FVC (tied for seventh)
Top returning players: Terrion Spencer, sr. (G); Jared Russell, sr. (G); Hayden DeMarsh, sr. (F); Anthony Jobe, sr. (F)
Top newcomers: Rasheed Trice, jr, (F/G); Amos Bynum, jr. (F/G); Kadin Malone, jr. (G); Leon Metcalf, jr. (G)
Season outlook: Huber said his team isn’t very big so the Chargers will need to rebound as a team and find a way to get easy baskets. Spencer, Russell, DeMarsh and Jobe all are four-year three-sport athletes. Spencer averaged 11 points and six rebounds a game last season. Huber is team is hoping to be in the top half of the FVC and be an extremely competitive team.
Elgin
Coach: Kurt Kerrigan (first season).
Last season’s record: 9-23 overall, 4-14 in the Upstate Eight (9th place).
Top returners: Nic Avina, sr., F; Ryan Varghese, jr., G.
Key newcomers: Adrian Jackson, sr., F; TJ Singson, sr., G; Coreyon Johnson, jr., F.
Worth noting: Kerrigan, who served as an assistant coach with the Maroons the past 2 seasons, takes over at the helm following last year’s 9-win campaign. Avina, a 6-foot-3 forward, and 6-0 guard Varghese head the list of returners, while 6-5 wings Jackson, Johnson, and 5-7 point guard Singson form a solid nucleus of newcomers. “We have a young group and we’re looking to build chemistry toward the future,” said Kerrigan. Elgin opens its season on Nov. 25 against Thanksgiving Tournament host Westminster Christian, and will host its own holiday tournament Dec. 23, 26-28.
Geneva
Coach: Scott Henning
Last season: 16-15 (6-8 DuKane Conference)
Top returners: Hudson Kirby, senior, forward; Jack Hatton, senior, guard; Gabe Jensen, junior, guard; Dane Turner, junior, forward; Jackson McCarthy, junior, guard
Top newcomers: Kyle Suger, junior, forward; Ben Petersen, junior, forward; Nelson Wendell, sophomore, guard; John Tweed, sophomore, guard
Worth noting: The Vikings will be looking for their 21st consecutive season with a winning record, and Henning is confident that his group has what it takes to do that. Geneva returns a good core of players to the roster, led by Kirby, a Wisconsin-Parkside commit, and Hatton, as well as a good group of newcomers Henning said he is excited about. Henning said he’s looking forward to facing a challenge every night throughout the season.
Hampshire
Coach: Mike Featherly (sixth season)
Last season: 13-19, 7-11 FVC (tied for seventh)
Top returning players: Ben Dumoulin, sr. (G, 5-11); Chayse Gray, sr. (G, 5-9); Jaden Nelson, sr. (G/F, 6-1); Ryan Prowicz, sr. (G, 6-1); Evan Wurtz, sr. (F, 6-2)
Top newcomers: Cole Harkin, jr. (G, 5-9); Jordan Parish, jr. (G, 5-9); Trayvon Greer, jr. (G, 5-10); Jaiden Baldwin, jr. (F, 6-1); Sean Roth, jr. (G, 6-0); Danny Doherty, sr. (G, 6-0); Devin Bach, jr. (F, 6-2); Israel Ayoola, jr. (F, 6-3)
Season outlook: The Whip-Purs have a lot of new faces on the varsity team, but should have more depth than previous years. “Practices have been competitive with great energy,” Featherly said. “This should be a competitive year in the Fox Valley, and we are working to be in the mix.”
Harvest Christian
Coach: Lafayette Bell (second season).
Last season’s record: 20-12 overall, 7-1 in the Northeastern (2nd place).
Top returners: Elijah Bell, soph., G; Zander Langfield, jr., F; Nathan Foster, jr., G.
Key newcomers: Vincent Corrado, Jr., frosh., F/C.
Worth noting: The Lions return their point guard, 6-foot-3 sophomore Bell, from last season’s squad that won 20 games and captured their third consecutive Class 1A regional championship (71-46 win over St. Edward). Despite losing senior standouts Kaden Meeker and JJ Gonnam to graduation, Harvest Christian welcomes back 6-3 Langfield and 5-9 backcourt player Foster. Corrado, Jr., is an agile 6-5 freshman forward/center and is still growing. Harvest Christian’s 2023-2024 season ended in a memorable 72-70 sectional semifinal loss to top-seeded Serena before a standing-room-only crowd in Elgin. The Lions open their season against Belvidere on Nov. 25 at the Crystal Lake Central Thanksgiving Tournament.
Huntley
Coach: Collin Kalamatas (second season)
Last season: 20-11, 14-5 FVC (second)
Top returning players: Sheldon Aninagyei-Bonsu, sr. (G, 6-3); Logan Darragh, sr. (C, 6-7); Connor Devries, sr. (G, 6-3); Will Dillon, sr. (F, 6-3); Ashua Maya, sr. (G, 6-0), Aidan Larson, sr. (G, 6-3); Zach Rysavy, sr. (G, 6-2); Christian Wilson, sr. (G, 6-3)
Top newcomers: Noah Cook, so. (G/F, 6-6); Aidan Gibbs, jr. (G, 5-10); Casey Kaczmarski, jr. (G, 5-11); Dylan Pease, jr. (F, 6-0)
Season outlook: The Red Raiders finished second in the FVC last season but graduated six of their top eight rotation players. “While we lose a lot of the core from last year’s team, we had a bunch of guys on the roster last year that are stepping into bigger roles this year who are more than ready for the opportunity,” Kalamatas said. “We have some good depth with a mix of bright young players and solid senior leaders.” Wilson came off the bench last season but made 51 3-pointers, shooting 44%. “He will certainly have an expanded role this year,” Kalamatas said. Aninagyei-Bonsu was the only other Raider to play significant minutes last season. “We are excited for the upcoming season,” Kalamatas said. “Practices have been competitive, and the guys have been working extremely hard since last March. We hope to see plenty of growth in our group from November to March.”
Jacobs
Coach: Jimmy Roberts (12th season)
Last season: 14-18, 9-9 FVC (sixth)
Top returning players: Ben Jurzak, sr. (G, 6-0); Emaan Thomas, sr. (G, 5-10); Nolan Roper, sr. (G, 6-2); Samson Averehi, jr. (F, 6-4); Jordan O’Connor, sr. (G, 6-3)
Top newcomers: Carson Goehring, jr. (F, 6-4); Connor Goehring, jr. (F, 6-4); Jack Magee, jr. (G, 6-0); Marcello Robertson, jr. (G, 5-11)
Season outlook: Jurzak is a four-year varsity player who has scored 856 points and last season made 87 3-pointers. Fellow senior Thomas has been starting since his sophomore year. Roper is another three-year varsity player. “Led by our experienced senior guards, we hope to contend for the FVC title and a regional championship,” Roberts said. The Goehrings are 6-4 twins who played key roles in helping the football team earn a playoff berth. Connor started at quarterback and Carson at wide receiver. “We have a bunch of newcomers that will contribute,” Roberts said. “We do have some size and athleticism from those newcomers that we have not had for a few years.”
Kaneland
Coach: Ernie Colombe
Last season: 26-6 (8-2 Interstate 8 Conference)
Top returners: Freddy Hassan, senior, forward; Evan Frieders, junior, guard; Luke Reinert, senior, guard; Jeffrey Hassan, sophomore, forward; Preston Popovich, senior, guard; Isaiah Gipson, junior, guard; Evan Ross, senior, forward; Brayden Seaton, senior, guard; Jake Buckley, junior, center
Top newcomers: Marshawn Cocroft, junior, guard; Connor Kimme, junior, guard
Worth noting: After successfully defending their Interstate 8 Conference title while making it all the way to the Class 3A sectional finals, the Knights return a plethora of players, led by the Hassan brothers and Frieders, in hopes of achieving the three peat. While they did lose four-year starter and all-time leading scorer Troyer Carlson to graduation, Colombe has high hopes that Cocroft, an Aurora Christian transfer, can fill in that role in the backcourt, while also helping the offense not skip a beat.
Larkin
Coach: Deryn Carter (16th season).
Last season’s record: 8-24 overall, 6-12 in the Upstate Eight (7th place).
Top returners: Jahvi Sowers, jr., G; David McFadden, jr., G.
Key newcomers: Jayden Bailey, jr., G; Mac Irvin, jr., G/F; Lawrence Sallis, jr., F.
Worth noting: The Royals are coming off an 8-win campaign that ended with a Class 4A regional semifinal loss to Palatine. Carter has enjoyed plenty of success, having guided Larkin to 5 regional titles and a pair of sectional championships — the last coming during a record-breaking 31-4 season in 2021-2022. The Royals placed 4th in the state in 2018. Larkin begins its season against Hyde Park on Nov. 26 at the Rockford Auburn/Fred VanVleet Classic. “We will struggle early but should be a pretty good team by the end of the season,” said Carter.
Marmion
Coach: Joe Piekarz, fourth season.
Last season’s record: 15-18 overall, 4-5 in the CCL White (5th place).
Top returners: Caden Anderson, sr., G; Sam Dalmann, sr., F; Matt Murray, sr., G; Mac Moore, sr., G; Alex Eloe, sr., G.
Key newcomers: Ali Tharwani, jr., G; Joey Kramer, soph., G; Colin McEniry, soph., G; Dave Malley, soph., G; Brendan Kavanaugh, soph., G.
Worth noting: The Cadets experienced their share of ups and downs last season following their Class 3A sectional championship triumph — first since 1976 — in 2023. Anderson, a 6-foot-1 guard, returns as a starter after averaging 8.3 points per game last season. At 6-7, Dalmann is the Cadets’ tallest frontcourt player. Tharwani was unable to play varsity last year due to transfer rules. “He is poised to break out as one of the area’s top point guards,” said Piekarz. A talented sophomore class that won the CCL White at both the freshman and sophomore levels last year should contribute at the varsity level. Piekarz also expects Kramer, McEniry, Malley, and Kavanaugh to play significant minutes. Marmion, which advanced to the 3A regional finals before losing to eventual sectional finalist Kaneland (58-50) begins its season against Streamwood on Nov. 25 at the Batavia/Ken Peddy Windmill Classic.
South Elgin
Coach: Ryan Storm (first season).
Last season’s record: 14-15 overall, 12-6 in the Upstate Eight (tied for 3rd place).
Top returners: Quentin Albert, sr., G; Frank Clemente, sr., G; Ishmael George, sr., F; Drew Harms, sr., G; Caden Scholl, sr., F; Shailen Shukti, sr., G.
Key newcomers: Ilija Babic, jr., F; Darrion Thurman, jr., F; Aman Chiluka, soph., G; Kyle Mann, soph., G; Massimo Nalbono, soph., G.
Worth noting: Storm takes over at the helm for the Storm, who finished in the upper half of the Upstate Eight last season before losing to eventual sectional finalist Stevenson in the Class 4A regional semifinals (49-39). Albert, Clemente, Harms, and Shukti return as backcourt players, while Scholl and all-state football standout George man the interior. Storm played high school basketball at Onalaska High School (Wis). “I’m excited about the mix of guys we have this year and can’t wait to get the ball rolling,” said the coach. South Elgin, which last won a regional title in 2019, opens its season on Nov. 25 against Geneva at the Vikings’ Bob Schick Thanksgiving Tournament.
St. Charles East
Coach: Robert Klemm
Last season: 10-22 (1-13 DuKane Conference)
Top returners: Brad Monkemeyer, senior, forward; Marco Klebosits, senior, guard; Sam Tisch, senior, guard/forward; Andrew Wolfsmith, senior, forward; Gavin Szerlong, senior, guard; Cooper Jensen, junior, forward
Top newcomers: Gavin Belli, junior, forward; Reese Dumpit, junior, guard; Michael Hill, junior, guard/forward
Worth noting: The Saints return a lot of talent from the previous season including Monkemeyer, who averaged 9.9 points a game last season, while also having a lot of hopes for newcomers like Belli, Dumpit and Hill. Klemm hopes that the team can build off both their overall and conference records from last season.
St. Charles North
Coach: Tom Poulin
Last season: 11-18 (4-10 DuKane Conference)
Top returners: Auggie Hoffman, senior, guard; Camden Vine, senior, forward; Cooper Mellican, junior, forward; TJ Gleason, senior, guard; Jake Love, junior, guard; Colin Hopp, senior, forward
Top newcomers: Braden Harms, junior, guard; EJ Mondesir, junior, forward
Worth noting: The North Stars come into the season once again with a big group of returners hoping to improve on a sub-.500 record the season before. They did lose some key offensive pieces in Parker Reinke and Jake Furtney, but Poulin says that the returning group is committed to the cause of improving and learning as the season goes along in order to be playing their best basketball when the postseason tourney arrives.
St. Edward
Coach: Adam Webb (first season).
Last season’s record: 14-17 overall, 2-6 in the Chicagoland Christian (7th place).
Top returners: Matthew Morrice, sr., G/F; Anthony Freeman, sr., G; Cooper Pisarski, sr., G; Zach Sauceda, jr., G.
Key newcomers: Jack Guyette, jr., F/C; Ben Pfifer, soph., G; Owen Searcey, soph., F; JT Birns, soph., G.
Worth noting: Webb, who served as a varsity assistant at St. Edward for 4 seasons (2017-2021), returns to the program as the head coach. Morrice, a 6-foot-4 guard-forward, heads into the season with 945 career varsity points, while 6-6 Guyette is a transfer student. “We are returning an exceptional group of seniors that are hard-working and natural leaders,” said Webb. “Our younger players are lucky to work alongside them every night. We’re excited to see where he (Morrice) finished at the end of the season.” St. Edward, which lost to Harvest Christian in the Class 1A regional semifinals last season, begins its season against defending 4th-place 1A state finisher Aurora Christian on Nov. 25 at the Westminster Christian Thanksgiving Tournament. “The team is eager to bounce back in conference after a difficult first year in the Chicagoland Christian,” said the coach. “We might be in the toughest 1A conference in the state, with two teams making deep state runs in 2024, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Streamwood
Coach: Quentin Ruff (third season).
Last season’s record: 2-30 overall, 0-18 in the Upstate Eight (10th place).
Top returners: Raysean Allen, sr., G; Ethan Reyes, sr., G; Aden Strong, sr., F; Kaiden Conner, sr., C; Payton Clements, sr., F; Byron Walton, soph., G.
Key newcomers: Alejandro Flores, sr., G; Aragorn Olszewski, sr., C; Jamere Kilberts, jr., G; Jesse Sanchez, jr., F; Kai Engel, soph., F; Jadyn Miller, jr., F; Jaelin Tate, jr., G; Aaron Arguello, jr., F; Juan Betancourt, jr., G; Adam Hovey, soph., C.
Worth noting: It has been a rough go of it for the Sabres, who have finished 3-62 overall with a 36-game UEC winless streak the last 2 seasons. Streamwood looks to improve with the return of several players, including 6-foot-1 guard Allen, 5-9 guard Strong, 6-2 wing Conner, and 5-11 sophomore guard Walton, plus first-year varsity players Miller (6-2) and Hovey (6-7). The Sabres open their season against Marmion on Nov. 25 at Batavia’s Ken Peddy Windmill Classic before their UEC debut at Elgin on Dec. 6. Streamwood will play in the Wheeling Holiday Tournament on Dec. 23, 26-28.
West Aurora
Coach: Michael Fowler (second season).
Last season’s record: 21-11 overall, 12-4 in the Southwest Prairie West (tied for 1st place).
Top returners: Gabe Gonzales, sr., C; Kewon Marshall, sr., F; Jaden Edwards, sr., G.
Key newcomers: Travis Brown, soph., G.
Worth noting: The Blackhawks enjoyed a 21-win campaign last season — most since 2019 — in Fowler’s debut season at the helm. Along the way, West Aurora finished in a tie with Oswego East for first place in the Southwest Prairie West before losing to top-seeded Bolingbrook (54-48) in the Class 4A regional finals. Gonzales, a 6-foot-7 post, Marshall and Edwards return to bolster the Blackhawks’ lineup. West Aurora will compete in the newly formed Upstate Eight this season — opening against Bartlett on Dec. 6. The Blackhawks begin their season on Nov. 25 against Neuqua Valley at Oswego’s Hoops 4 Healing Tournament.
Westminster Christian
Coach: Joel Lightbourne (first season).
Last season’s record: 4-19 overall, 2-6 in the Northeastern Athletic (tied for 7th place).
Top returners: Jake Arnold, jr., G; Brian Powers, jr., G.
Key newcomers: Zach Gurley, sr., F.
Worth noting: Lightbourne takes over as the Warriors’ head coach, guiding a program that is looking to improve upon last season’s 4-win campaign. Arnold, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, and 5-8 point guard Powers return to bolster the Warriors’ backcourt. Last season, Westminster Christian lost to crosstown rival St. Edward (67-44) in the Class 1A regional quarterfinals. The Warriors, who last won a regional title in 2016, open their season against Elgin in their own Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 25, and begin Northeastern Athletic action on Dec. 10 at Schaumburg Christian.
— Joe Aguilar and Joel Boenitz from Shaw Local News Network contributed to this preview